DRINKERS at a historic pub in Linlithgow are prepared to mount a crowdfunding bid to buy their local in a bid to stop its brewing giant owner renaming The Black Bitch.
Around 11,000 people have signed a petition urging Greene King to stick with its current name, derived from the legend of a faithful black greyhound that swam across Linlithgow Loch to take food to her incarcerated owner.
This led to the animal being incorporated in the town’s coat of arms in 1673 and immortalised in the High Street sculpture, The Black Bitch of Linlithgow.
People born in the town are affectionately known as Black Bitches, but the brewer wants to rename the pub The Black Hound.
After announcing the move, the company’s operations manager in Scotland told the BBC: "To put it into context, you wouldn't call a new business today The Black Bitch.
"We know that name was not originally racist or offensive. But its meaning over time has changed.
"The grouping of those two words together can be deemed, in today's language, as racist and offensive."
According to the pub chain, the decision to change the name came after consultation with groups in the area including the West Lothian Community Race Forum.
Engagement with the community showed “many people would no longer feel welcome visiting a pub with that name”, according to the company.
READ MORE: 'The Black Bitch' pub: Alex Salmond hits out at plans to change name
Alistair Old, who speaks for The Black Bitch supporters, told The National discussions with the chain have ended in stalemate.
“When we met with them in December we did try to compromise with a bit more signage on the side of the building, just explaining what the Black Bitch actually was,” he said.
“They said ‘no, we're changing the name of the pub’, so that was the end of the discussions, as far as we’re concerned.
“They then started with The Black Hound, and we said that nominally changes the sex of the dog and makes a mockery of the actual history of Linlithgow, it is a Black Bitch that’s in the fable.
“But a hound can mean a promiscuous man, a man who chases women, a despicable person, so why the hell would you want to put that up on a plaque on the front of the public and think that's going to solve the issue?
“We told them that at the time and I think they realised then that oops, they’d made a mistake.”
Old said Greene King suggested three alternative names, but locals did not want to go down that route.
“We've told them we're not interested in a new name for the pub. We want to keep the symbol of Linlithgow alive and to take it away like that is taking away a landmark to the people of the town.
“Greene King seemed to be offended by the name of the pub, and therefore they're going wipe out our history.
“We've said to them this if this means so much to them in terms of bad publicity or whatever, why don't they sell the pub and if that were the case, then we would look seriously at it.”
Old said there was a precedent for a community buyout across the River Forth in Culross.
READ MORE: 'Black Bitch' pub name change could be debated in Westminster
“The Red Lion down in Culross did the same thing. They got a grant from the Scottish Land Fund to help people in the community buy shares and all the rest of it.
So, if that was possible – we doubt that Greene King will want to sell – but if it was, then we would be prepared to seriously look at the finances of that and I'm sure the people in Linlithgow would come together and put expertise together to be able to buy it.”
Local SNP Martyn Day added: “Greene King are sleepwalking into this and have taken it the whole thing out of context. It’s part of Linlithgow’s history, it’s living history and they are in fairyland.”
A Greene King spokesperson said: “We respect the rich and varied history of Linlithgow and its traditions, but we’re changing the name of our pub as we also know there are people who find its current name offensive as language has evolved.
“We’re seeking to work constructively with local people on choosing a new name for the pub and have suggested a number of options.”
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